[March Thematic Report]-Kilimanjaro national park and wildlife reserve reportby Baraka E Urio | 19-03-2023 00:38 |
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   INTRODUCTION. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania's most famous tourist attraction, is the African continent's highest peak at 5895 meters. Kilimanjaro National Park was established and registered in 1973 under the supervision of the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), a division of Tanzania's National Park Authorities (TANAPA). From the lowest to the highest point, the mountain is surrounded by a massive forest reserve with five major vegetation zones: montane forest, alpine desert forest, summit forest, heath, and Mooran forest. The majority of wildlife species, primarily mammals and hundreds of plant species, are found in the lower zone of montane forest. IMPORTANCES OF WILDLIFE IN KILIMANJARO MOUNTAIN. 1. The accumulation of forest reserves around Kilimanjaro mountain creates equatorial climatic conditions, which improves the appearance of the mountain's snow shine. 2.The presence of mammals, particularly elephants, monkeys, Zebras, Giraffes, buffalo, and antelopes, improves the ecosystem of the Kilimanjaro Forest Reserve. 3. Mount Kilimanjaro's green appearance is improved by vegetation around it. THREATS TO KILIMANJARO MOUNTAIN WILDLIFES 1. Population growth around Mount Kilimanjaro-Because areas around Mount Kilimanjaro are more fertile due to good soil profile from volcanic soil formation, this causes land invasion which was reserved as a forest and park reserve, endangering wildlife in the reserves. Population growth in the mountain area leads to deforestation for settlement development, which devastates the ecosystem in the Kilimanjaro area. 2.Vegetation cover-Areas around Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania are covered by Chagga tribe individuals who are large cultivators of banana and coffee plantations. As time passes, the rate of green cultivation of banana and coffee plantations fades away, reducing the green climatic conditions around the mountain areas (Rainfall scarcity), affecting the entire ecosystem around the Kilimanjaro mountain. 3.Fire outbreak-This is one of the most recent problems now, last two months there was a fire incidence around the mountain that burned the forest reserve for more than a week -THIS IS DANGEROUS, this problem is still experienced heavily around this areas, "My fellow ambassadors, we need to raise our voice for this", fire outbreaks destroy a lot of wildlife and wild settlements around the mountain, this will also cause the extinction of other flora species around the world. 4.Climate change is a global problem that affects wild plants and animals all over the world. Water bodies around national parks all over the world are experiencing severe drought, causing hundreds of wildlife to perish. Global warming affects Mount Kilimanjaro's ice and the overall Kilimanjaro region temperature. According to climate data, the Kilimanjaro region is one of the hottest regions in Tanzania, which is the opposite of what it used to be. CONCLUSION. Kilimanjaro National Park and Wildlife Reserve is vulnerable to climate change, which threatens the survival of the most primitive wild creations. PLEASE PROTECT OUR NATURE. |
